BOULDER — Colorado's next football coach could make up to $2.5 million a year, a big jump in commitment from the $742,000 paid to Jon Embree.

Athletic director Mike Bohn said the school has not settled on an exact salary but is increasing its commitment to the program to lure a current head coach with a proven track record, of which the going rate nationally is around $2 million to $2.5 million annually.

Bohn indicated he has a favorite in mind, whom he wouldn't name, and has formed a list. Every candidate on the list is, or was recently, a head coach, some from the power conferences, he said. He again confirmed his interest in Jeff Tedford, fired recently at California after an 11-year run.

Many of Jon Embree's players stood in the back of the room Colorado athletic director Mike Bohn announced Embree's firing. (Kathryn Scott Osler, The Denver Post)

"The conviction for football has got to be escalated amongst all of our key players with that," Bohn said at the news conference announcing Embree's firing. "Our next head coach is watching. And they're going to say: 'How is Colorado responding? How are they going to do it? Are they committed to doing it?' "

The athletic department is receiving an influx of funds because of the Pac-12's lucrative TV contracts. Colorado, in its second year in the league, will start receiving about $21 million a year in television revenue.

The TV money is desperately needed. Colorado's revenue from ticket sales dropped about $2.5 million this past football season, Bohn said, and another drop was projected next season if ticket sales continued to decline.

No front-runner has yet been identified. Two coaches known to be interested are Tim DeRuyter, who improved Fresno State from 4-9 to 10-3 and a share of the Mountain West title in his first year as a head coach, and Bob Stitt, who is 90-57 in 12 years at Colorado Mines. Neither, however, would seem to have the big-name impact Bohn is looking at, namely a proven track record at a major school.

The new coach will get a commitment from the administration unlike any coach the school has had, Bohn indicated. He hopes to make an announcement soon on a facilities upgrade that is expected to include a major football building beyond the east stands of Folsom Field.

"As we've looked around the Pac-12 Conference, everywhere we've gone we see the commitment," Bohn said. "We see what we're up against. The bar is raised high. It's higher than it's ever been. This is a monumental challenge for everyone."

When asked if he's giving the next coach things he didn't give Embree, Bohn responded: "By no means are we saying that. The climate is changing. There's more pressure to pull that together. The landscape has changed."

Jon Embree, left, pauses in the hallway in front of his office for a hug from Colorado defensive lineman De'Jon Wilson. (Kathryn Scott Osler, The Denver Post)

Bohn will use the help of a to-be-determined search committee to select the new coach.

Among Colorado's weaknesses is its facilities, among the most dated in the Pac-12. The Dal Ward Center looks almost the same as it did when it was built in 1991 and serves as the training center for every scholarship team on campus. The football team does not have its own facility. The indoor facility is a temporary bubble.

The new coach must have a vision and be able to build with less, Bohn said, as well as help bring all factions of the CU community together.

"Leadership and organizational skills, the ability to have a clear vision and ensure that's in place and be able to sell that," Bohn said of what he's looking for. "Character and integrity obviously is a key piece of that. Competitive instinct, a desire to be the best, to recognize we have an opportunity to compete for the Rose Bowl."

The Buffaloes, coming off a 1-11 season, are a long way from reaching the Rose Bowl.

The new coach will have 17 starters back, assuming no one transfers, plus the return of star receiver Paul Richardson from an injury. He will also inherit the worst defense in school history.

Jon Embree talked Monday after his firing as Colorado coach. "I thought I would be here, be able to build it and have an opportunity to see it through," he said. (Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post)

Bohn ruled out a couple of candidates whose names have begun appearing on potential candidates lists: former Ohio State coach Jim Tressel and Air Force coach Troy Calhoun. Bohn said he would not hire a coach who was fired and received a show-cause penalty from the NCAA. That would seem to eliminate Tressel. Bohn also said he wouldn't consider Calhoun, whom he doesn't think will be interested after not taking the job two years ago, before Embree was hired.

Bohn is expected to contact Tedford, who is an unlikely fit because he's due to receive a $6.9 million buyout from Cal and his contract requires any salary he makes in another head coaching job be subtracted from that figure. He would essentially work for free, depending on the length of a new contract and its guarantees.

However, Tedford is a proven winner in the Pac-12. In 2002 he took over a 1-10 team and went 79-48 through his first 10 years until the Bears slumped to 3-9 this season. He went 6-3 in bowl games and went 10-2 in 2004.

DeRuyter, 49, played at Air Force in 1984 when Bohn was an intern in the athletic department. DeRuyter has Colorado ties from serving as Air Force's defensive coordinator from 2007-09 before serving in the same role at Texas A&M. He took over at Fresno State this year.

Stitt is considered an offensive mastermind. He won a Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference title in 2004 and a co-championship in 2010.

"It's the same situation as Ohio State when they hired (Jim) Tressel," Stitt said. "High school coaches supported him and the school ignored their egos and it worked out. I can recruit this state and get people excited about CU football again."

A look at Jon Embree's contract, which was approved by the Board of Regents in February 2011:

- $250,000 base salary- $200,000 annual supplemental compensation for radio, television and public appearances- $200,000 for sponsorship support- $75,000 for conducting summer football camps- $6,000 for country club membership- $10,000 in Nike sports apparel- Up to $20,000 in moving expenses plus 30 days of lodging- A courtesy car or up to $800 a month in lieu of a courtesy car- 10 season tickets for a suite in Folsom Field for home games; and 10 season tickets to men's and women's basketball teams- Off-field potential bonuses: up to $75,000 for academic progress toward graduation of football players; up to $75,000 for the welfare and development of players; and up to $50,000 for development of the program's reputation on campus- On-field potential bonuses: $750,000 for a national championship; $50,000 for seven regular-season wins; and $200,000 for a non-BCS bowl game

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